Picket-feeder for fence-making machines



(No Model.) J F V PIGKET EEEDEE EOE FENCE MAKING MACHINES. No. 449,549. PatentedMar. 31, 1891..

1 o S o "'"IIIIIL\\\\\\\\ a a 2 mm l I I lun m NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F. MAUCK, OF WVHITE CLOUD, KANSAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,549, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed November 11, 1890- Serial No. 371,048. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. MAUOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVhite Cloud, in the county of Doniphan and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Picket-Feeder for Fence-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved attachment for fence-making machines; and it has for its object to provide adevice for feeding the laths or pickets between the wires with which they are to be interwoven. Heretofore this operation has usually been performed by placing the pickets one by one in position by hand; and my invention has for its object to provide a machine which shall be very simple in construction and by means of which the pickets may be placed in position with ease and accuracy.

WVith these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out'in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved picketfeeding device. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the-same. Fig. 3 is a front view of the device provided with the adjustable gage.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

' 1 designates the table or platform of the machine, which is provided with two upwardly-extending inclined brackets 2 2, the inner sides of which are provided with shoulders or brackets 3, adapted to support the laths or pickets which are piled upon the said upright. lhe lower ends of the latter are preferably curved, as will be seen at 4., so as to guide the pickets into position upon the bed or table 1. The lower ends of the uprights are connected by a curved shield or plate 5, serving to confine the pickets and to guide them into position to be fed to the fencemaking mechanism. One of the uprights 2 is provided at its lower edge with a notch or opening 6 of a suitable size to admit of the passage of a single picket.

The table 1 is provided on its upper side with a longitudinal groove 7, having a bearing for a slide 8, which is provided with a handle 9, by means of which it may be conveniently manipulated. To the upper side of a slide 8 is secured a plate 10, which rests upon the upper side of the table 1 and extends under the curved plate or shield 5. The said plate is made of a suitable thickness to enable it to push the pickets which have been placed upon the brackets 2 out through the opening 6 when the slide is reciprocated.

The upper ends of the uprights or brackets 2 2are connected by a cross-piece 11, and supporting-rods 12 connect the said cross-piece with the base of the machine.

13 designates a gage-bar, which may be secured adjustably to the cross-piece 11, the lower end of said gage-barbeinglikewise connected with the curved shield 5. This gagebar is used when short pickets are to be fed, it being adjustable, as described, so as to adaptthe machine to feeding pickets of any desired length.

In operation one end of my improved feeding device is supported upon the bed or table of the fence-making machine and the other end is provided with a leg 14. The pickets are then placed upon the uprights or brackets 2 2 and the slide 8 is reciprocated by hand, thus feeding the pickets one by one, as will be readily understood.

My improved feeding device is very simple in construction and easily operated, and it may be readily attached to and used in connection with any fence-makin g machine of ordinary construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of the bed or table, the inclined supporting-brackets, the cross-piece connecting the upper ends of the latter, the supporting-rods connecting the said cross-piece with the table, and an adjustable gage-bar secured detachably to the said cross-piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of the bed or table havinga longitudinal groove, the inclined supportingbrackets having shoulders or brackets on their inner sides, the curved shield connecting the lower ends of said supporting-bracket's, the slide mounted to reciprocate in the side with a plate extending under the curved shield and adapted to push the pickets supported upon the brackets through a notch or opening at the lower edge of one of said brackcts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F. MAUCK.

"Witnesses:

O. C. BURKl-IALTER, C. XV. SHREVE. 

